Lester, Cook will face new challenge in Game 4

On baseball's biggest stage, under the glare of the lights and the scrutiny of the nation, the Red Sox and the Rockies will be sending two survivors to the mound Sunday night.

Mike Fine

On baseball's biggest stage, under the glare of the lights and the scrutiny of the nation, the Red Sox and the Rockies will be sending two survivors to the mound Sunday night.

One might think that Jon Lester and Aaron Cook would be counting their blessings to be in that situation.

Think again.

"It was unfortunate that Tim (Wakefield) went down," said Lester, who hasn't started a game since Sept. 26, "and I guess I just filled in his spot. I don't think there's anything special about it. Y'know, I'm just trying to take it as another start, trying not to look at it as anything extra than that."

"Well, it's very gratifying," said Cook, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 10 because of a strained oblique muscle. "I've been working my butt off even with the injury this year to my oblique. I never gave up. I kept looking forward to having a chance to pitch in the postseason, and here it is.”

That they can feel this way is a testament to their inner strength. Lester, 4-0, 4.57 during the regular season, successfully battled lymphoma last winter. Cook, 8-7, 4.12 was victim of a life-threatening blood clot in his lungs in 2004. Funny how this all worked out.

"I just think the significance of it is special for every cancer victim that's out there, that there's a battle that can be on your hands, but there's a battle that can be fought, and just as importantly there's a battle that could be won. These guys are representative of that. … So it's good, it's real good."

Good, yet Lester and Cook have one goal in mind, and it has little to do with their struggles to get back into the game. Each has overcome his malady, and now it's time to perform. Cook has long ago left his blood clotting problems behind. He was on his way to a decent 2007 season when he was hit with the oblique strain.

"I've been throwing a lot of simulated games against our lineup," he said, "and our lineup is pretty good, so I've been fortunate to face those guys. I think I've had three simulated games. I feel pretty comfortable with where I'm at, and tomorrow will be the real test. It's the biggest stage."

Lester has been in action all season, but because of his inexperience and place on the pitching totem pole, he's been relegated to less-than-crucial duty.

When Wakefield went down with a bum shoulder before the start of the World Series, Lester was plugged in, having thrown three scoreless innings in Game 4 of the ALCS.

"I'm pretty excited," he said. "It really hasn't hit home yet, but I'm sure (Sunday) when I wake up and realize that I am pitching that I'll start thinking about it and getting nervous."

Beyond that, there's none of this role model theme that the national media would like to support. "I don't look at it that way," he said. "I just look at it as I was a normal person and did anything that anybody else would have done."

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